What does a ‘Sense of Impending Doom’ mean? (+11 Coping strategies)
As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided.
Author bio
The Optimistminds editorial team is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals. Each article is written by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter. The article then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the…
This detailed post will be explaining what a ‘Sense of Impending Doom’ means. We will also be checking out the causes of this medical symptom. Lastly, we will be listing the different treatment methods that are available, along with a few coping strategies.
What does a ‘Sense of Impending Doom’ mean?
A ‘Sense of Impending Doom’ refers to a medical symptom in which the person strongly feels that something terribly bad is about to happen to them or to someone else. This medical symptom is associated with both mental as well as medical conditions.
Causes of a ‘Sense of Impending Doom’
If you have a sense of impending doom, this can be due to several reasons, all of which are not psychological in nature. The main causes of a sense of impending doom have been discussed in the following section.
Due to allergic reactions
In certain allergic reactions of severe intensity, you may experience a sense of impending doom. This is not felt with all types of allergic reactions, but those which are very serious, known as anaphylaxis.
Because of pulmonary embolisms
In case of any pulmonary embolism, this may also lead to a sense of impending doom. Apart from feeling a sense of impending doom, the person may also experience chest pains and even fainting spells.
Because of cardiac issues
Cardiac issues can also lead to a sense of impending doom. If your body is going through a heart attack or even angina, you might have a sense of impending doom. This is another reason why this feeling should not be taken lightly.
Due to poisonings
Certain types of poisons in the blood can also lead to a sense of impending doom. For instance, in many cases of cyanide poisoning, victims have reported feeling a sense of impending doom before any other symptom.
Due to problems in blood-transfusion
Blood-transfusion is a life-saving procedure, but in many cases can be problematic if not handled correctly. However, even safe blood transfusions may lead to allergic reactions which can lead to feelings of impending doom.
Because of adrenal tumors
Tumors in the adrenal gland can lead to a surge in adrenaline in the blood, along with dopamine. Adrenaline, in turn, leads to an increased heart rate since the fight or flight response is triggered. This can also lead to a sense of impending doom.
Because of a stroke
Strokes can come with numerous signs and symptoms, among which a sense of impending doom is common. Apart from the sense of impending doom, strokes may also come with feelings of weakness on one side of the body, trouble in seeing, dizziness, etc.
Apart from these medical conditions, certain mental health conditions can also lead to a sense of impending doom. The different mental health conditions which can lead to this medical symptom are:
- Anxiety disorders
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD)
- Depression
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Bipolar Disorders
Treatment for a ‘Sense of Impending Doom’
Since a ‘sense of impending doom’ is actually a medical symptom of some other condition in your body, the first line of treatment will be to treat whatever condition is causing this feeling. If you are having a sense of impending doom, it is advised that you visit the doctor immediately.
However, a sense of impending doom also accompanies many mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. In this case, the feeling may not exactly signify a dangerous situation but can be hard to go through.
Below, you will find numerous strategies to use if you are experiencing a sense of impending doom.
Breathing exercises
The best coping strategy to use when you are experiencing a ‘sense of impending doom’ is to use breathing exercises. Through deep breathing and abdominal breathing, the levels of O2 and CO2 in your blood become more regulated.
This will in turn stimulate your parasympathetic nervous system which is responsible for helping your body relax. There are a number of breathing exercises that you can use and even several gadgets to help you do so in the market.
Keeping a track of triggers
A sense of impending doom can be one of the many symptoms your body experiences when your mind is stressed or is triggered by some factor. You can try keeping a track of your triggers and avoid these or be better prepared to face these in the future.
Regular exercise
Physical exercise can not only be great for your physical health but even your mental health. Exercising releases dopamine and serotonin in your body, which can decrease anxiety levels and keep you stress-free.
Journaling daily
One of the most important things that you can do for your mental health is regular journaling. By writing your thoughts and emotions in a journal every day, you will be able to vent and healthily express yourself. This can also help in bringing down your anxiety levels.
Use positive affirmations
You can also use positive affirmations if you are feeling a sense of impending doom. Affirmations are not simply positive statements but tend to be meaningful in nature and thus can be very effective in fighting this sense of impending doom.
To make affirmations more effective, you can choose short and powerful statements which hold a lot of value to you. Furthermore, you can even write down these statements on a vision board, or even create a note on your phone to remind you.
Practicing yoga
Yoga is another pretty great tool that can help in fighting this sense of impending doom. Yoga can not only improve your physical agility and flexibility but can also act as a superb grounding activity. Yoga can also help in mindfulness.
Eating a healthy diet
The food you eat also plays a great role in your mental health. By eating more protein and fiber along with the right probiotics, you will be able to help your body and mind join forces in fighting anxiety which can cause a sense of impending doom.
Proper sleep routines
Another important factor which strongly affects your mood and anxiety levels is sleep. When you sleep in a healthier manner, you will be able to fight off this sense of impending doom. You can even choose weighted blankets, essential oils, memory-foam pillows, etc. to help in this.
Learning new skills
Often, stepping out of your comfort zone for even a little bit can lead to anxiety and thus a sense of impending doom. To keep your senses trained to face challenges in a healthy manner, you can keep learning new skills and skill sets. This can also do wonders for your self-esteem.
Talking it out
If you are finding that you anxiety and stress levels are building up, you can try talking it out with a friend or a trusted person. Venting and expressing are instant stress-busters and can keep the sense of impending doom away.
Going to therapy
If you are able to, you can try going to therapy to help with this sense of impending doom. Therapy comes in all sorts and types, but Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is most recommended for coping with anxiety and the sense of impending doom.
In therapy sessions, you will find an avenue to express yourself with no judgment. You will also be able to learn new cognitive techniques and strategies to fight negative thoughts and even change your thought processes for the better.
Conclusion
This detailed post has explained what a ‘Sense of Impending Doom’ means. We have also checked out the causes of this medical symptom. Lastly, we have listed the different treatment methods that are available, along with a few coping strategies.
If you like this post, please leave your comments and questions in the space below.
Citations
Take Control of Your Mental Health and Live Your Best Life with BetterHelp Online Therapy
